"We would have sent word of our location. Vaden is becoming impatient."
"Vaden?" Kadar asked. "What on earth has Vaden to--"
"Stop it. None of this is important." Selene stepped forward. "I have to talk to Layla."
"You don't look well." Layla's gaze was raking Selene's face. "You're very pale."
"I'm with child."
She could sense Kadar stiffening in shock beside her.
A brilliant smile lit Layla's face. "Again? What wonderful news. It will be--"
"Not again. I felt life. Thea didn't feel life until she had reached almost her fourth month. It has to be the same child. I did not lose my baby."
"What?" Layla asked, stunned.
"You heard me. How could this be? You told me I'd lost the babe."
"I thought you had. There was bleeding . . ."
"How much bleeding?"
"Not too much, but you were unconscious and the shock . . . You should have lost it." Her eyes widened as a thought occurred to her. "Unless it was--"
"What?" Selene asked as Layla stopped speaking.
"Nothing. What do I know about babies? I'm no midwife. I've always tried to stay away from--It hurt too much when I couldn't conceive myself."
"Layla," Tarik said.
Layla glanced warily at him. "I thought you wanted it."
"Oh, my God," he whispered.
"Eshe," Kadar said.
"It was the only time I didn't offer choice," Layla said quickly to Tarik. "You'd given it to Kadar, and it was clear you wouldn't want him to be alone. She loved him."
"You put it in my wine that first night," Selene whispered.
Layla's gaze was still fixed anxiously on Tarik's face. "I thought you wanted it."
And obviously that was the only thing of importance in Layla's world, Selene realized in frustration.
Tarik shook his head. "It mustn't happen again, Layla. Not without choice."
"Oh, it won't," she said, obviously relieved. "But it's just as well, don't you agree?"
"No, I don't agree," Kadar said grimly. "You robbed Selene."
"Of choice." Layla turned to Selene. "But you should have lost the child. It had to be Eshe that kept it alive."
"You're sure?" Selene asked.
Layla shook her head. "We don't know enough for me to be sure. I've never given Eshe to anyone carrying a child. I didn't know you were with child when I gave it to you. But it makes sense a potion that would battle disease and strengthen the mother would also strengthen the child, doesn't it?"
"Yes," Selene said dazedly.
